Terry Brewer

Life is music… Share The Grass!!

About Terry Brewer

At age 15 my family relocated to Bakersfield, CA. After High School I worked with a friend at a local motorcycle shop he was a DJ for Buck Owens’ Rock station “KKXX”. I would hang out at the radio station when Don was on the air and I can remember thinking what an awesome job he had, sharing and playing music for people. From the KKXX studio through the window I could see the KUZZ studio, Buck’s Country station in the same building.

By the age of 21, still listening to rock music, I found myself visiting a Country music bar “The Funny Farm” where I saw my sister’s friend from high school and asked her to dance. Sheila taught me how to Two-Step and a month later we were married. This changed my music collection in my jeep from Fleetwood Mac, Clapton, Bad Company, Seger to Haggard, Jones, Waylon, Willie, and George Strait. With Rock and Country music changing, something seemed to be missing, until one Sunday night at church Miss Ollie and Travis were playing music on stage before the evening service. The way they were playing and singing got my attention. After church I followed them into the parking lot and asked what style of music they had been playing and could they teach me to play that way. Bluegrass, they replied and yes, we got together and jammed every other Sunday 2 hours before church. Bluegrass? So a few weeks later I showed up nervous as my first day at school.

The room had several pickers in a circle, and it didn’t take long to find out I had developed some bad habits with my guitar playing over the years. Seems I had forgotten what Uncle Bert had taught me years ago. Miss Olie was on me like white on rice, don’t strum like that, this is the way you should do it. So I went home, practiced and returned, you’re out of time and playing to slow and it’s your turn to sing. More practice, SING? I returned more nervous than when Sheila walked down the aisle on our wedding night. A few months later I joined them on stage in church, shaking in my shoes!

I told my mom how much I enjoyed bluegrass music, so she went out and bought me a few CDs and tickets to a three-day festival 5 hours north of Bakersfield for my birthday. After seeing what goes on at a bluegrass festival, the jamming in the campgrounds, and the bands on the main stage. I decided to get more involved and headed home with a stack of new CDs.

Since that first Bluegrass Festival, I became a member of the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Southwest Bluegrass Association where I have served on the SWBA Board of Directors for the last three years, managed the SWBA website for the last five years, and editor for the SWBA newsletter The Bluegrass Soundboard.

Gallery

I started sharing bluegrass music videos on Facebook and noticed how many people liked and shared the posts. In 2013 SHARE THE GRASS started and I created a Facebook group called The Bluegrass Cafe. With 100 people asking to join daily grew very fast. A few months later I created The Bluegrass Cafe Facebook page, YouTube Channel, and a Bluegrass Cafe Twitter page. I was sharing 50+ posts a  day and was amazed at the response, likes, and people sharing the post with others.

Lou Ellen a friend on Facebook that was helping with The Bluegrass Café FB group, told me about The Bluegrass Jamboree and Annette Grady. I started listening to The Bluegrass Jamboree online and became a fan of the live shows. After meeting Annette and talking with her, I was impressed with her story and her devotion to bluegrass music. So, I volunteered to help with The Bluegrass Jamboree Facebook page and The Bluegrass Jamboree Chat FB group.

 Hooked On Bluegrass with Terry Brewer

Now for a new adventure, sharing bluegrass & bluegrass gospel music with others as the host of Hooked On Bluegrass on thebluegrassjamboree.com streaming bluegrass music radio.

I invite you to join me Sundays from 4-7 pm Eastern and Thursdays from 1-4 pm eastern for Hooked On Bluegrass.

Thank you, Annette, for allowing me to become a part of The Bluegrass Jamboree staff.

My Favourite Quote

“I thank God for ALL in my life”